Let's celebrate some of his best quotes:

“He ran to second faster than a cat in Chinatown.”

(About Hideo Nomo) “He’s the biggest thing to hit Japan since they dropped that bomb on Nagashima!”

“I’ve heard it said that if you know English, Spanish, Italian, and I think it’s French, you can go just about anywhere in this world…except for China where they have all those derelicts.” (5/19/02)

This year’s quote regarding the derelicts in China was followed (after a pause) by Joe Buck’s suggestion that Mike had meant to say “dialects.” Mike’s response was,”Yea, dialects! That’s what I mean. But they’ve got a lot of derelicts too!!”

(Broadcasting from New York under a full moon) “I wish you folks back in St. Louis could see this moon.”

(1-0 lead at Wrigley Field) ‘‘One run in this ballpark is like a grain of salt in the Sahara Desert.”

Joe: “Mike, the Cardinals would like to welcome a group of 19 French foreign exchange students in section 382 today.”
Mike: “Where they from Joe?”
Joe: “Uhhh… France… I think.”

“We’d like to say hello to all those folks listening in Monkey’s Eyebrow, Kentucky.”

“That foul tip bounced up and caught him right in the groins…and that’ll really clear your eyes out!”

(After a warning track fly ball) “A couple of strips of bacon at breakfast, and he’d a busted that baby out-a-here!”

“If you stuck your money clip between the foul line & the baseball, you’d be on welfare.” (8-28-07)

(On Jose Oquendo buying a new house) ”He’s going to make his winter home here year-round.”

“Our next home stand follows this road trip.” (5/20/01)

“Well, he did everything right to get ready for the throw, but if ya ain’t got the hose, the water just won’t come out.”

“…this crowd is on their feet for the Canadian Star Spangled Banner.”

“He’s faster than a chicken being chased by Ronald McDonald!”

A couple years back, Mike and Joe were discussing the horrible photographs of players that had been flashed on the screen at another ballpark. Mike’s take on the quality of photo selection was, “Some of those guys looked like the picture was taken while they were seeing their first UFO.” After several seconds of laughter, Joe added, “As opposed to their second or third.”

(On the day before Easter) “I just want to tell everyone Happy Easter and Happy Hanukkah.” (4/98)

(About a base stealer) “Sometimes when you feel the urge, you’ve just gotta go.” (6/17/98)

“Well, folks, this game began as a tiny worm and is blossoming into a large cobra.” (8/12/98)

“I wouldn’t have seen it if I hadn’t believed it.'”

“Oooh, that last pitch inside was a bit questionable and he’d like to say something to the umpire, but he won’t say anything. At least not verbally.”

“Boy a frosty cold Budweiser would be great about now”…long pause…then an “aahhh”.

“The wind has switched 360 degrees”.

“It was raining so hard I thought it was going to stop.”